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Massachusetts > North of Boston > Things to Do and See > Great Things to Do in MA

Great Things To Do - North of Boston & Merrimack Valley Region

Visit New Concord Great Things
Visit Concord MA

Discover Revolutionary History, Literary Landmarks & Year-Round Fun in Concord, MA

Concord, MA blends history, culture, and outdoor adventure into a year-round destination. Take a guided walking tour and follow in the footsteps of Revolutionary War heroes, famous authors, and other historic figures. Visit the Orchard House, where Louisa May Alcott’s iconic novel, Little Women, was both written and set. Explore Minuteman National Historical Park, where reenactments and ranger-led programs bring the Revolution to life. Cool off with a canoe trip on the Concord River or wander through shady Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. Enjoy the vibrant leaves along Fairyland Pond trails in the fall, and spend a winter afternoon exploring the Concord Museum’s exhibits and collections. With local shops, family-friendly eateries, chocolate tours, and more, Concord charms in every season.
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Sleepy Hollow Cemetery - Concord, MA
Here Lies Hawthorne

Pay your respects to celebrated authors and thinkers at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord, the sylvan resting place of some 10,000 souls. Stroll the garden-like grounds on a self-guided walking tour. Literary buffs may flock to "Author's Ridge" atop the highest hill, which marks the modest family plots of Henry Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Emerson, and Louisa May Alcott. "The Knoll" houses specially consecrated Jewish burial grounds. "Mourning Victory", or the Melvin Memorial, honors three brothers killed in the Civil War. While here, explore nearby Walden Pond or the Wayside, home to both Hawthorne and Alcott. Self-guided tour books available.
Rocky Neck Art Colony in Gloucester MA - Great Things To Do
Artist Colony Is Vibrant in Gloucester

Rocky Neck Art Colony in Gloucester is the oldest working art colony in the country, and has been luring artists to its picturesque shores for more than 150 years. Today the area is still home to many working artists and to galleries showing paintings in all media, as well as batik, photography, jewelry, prints, sculpture, ceramics, and fine gifts. A convenient walking tour of Rocky Neck, along East Main Street, includes information about three dozen galleries and studios on the Neck. A new book about the artists and history of the region, titled Rocky Neck Art Colony 1850-1950, by Judith Curtis, is available.
Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens - North Andover, MA
Enjoy a 20th-Century Diplomat’s House & Gardens

The Stevens Coolidge House & Gardens at 153 Chickering Road in North Andover was an early-20th-century estate with expansive and beautiful gardens. (Originally, the estate was the summer home of Helen and John Gardner Coolidge—a diplomat and a nephew to Isabella Stewart Gardner—from 1914 to 1962.) The Trustees of Reservations, which preserves and manages the property, did an improvement project in 2020-2021 that included new and improved gardens, indoor classrooms, retail space, an event lawn, and revised interior spaces. This is a fine year to visit. Admission tickets must be bought online in advance, for a specific time slot.
Spring and Summer 2026
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Downtown Gloucester & City Hall Aerial View - Great Things To Do
Stroll Charming Downtown Gloucester

The town of Gloucester, on the northern edge of Massachusetts Bay, is historically a rugged fishing town known for its iconic statue of Man at the Wheel (and for its role as the base of fearless fishermen in the movie “Perfect Storm”). It is also a great place to visit if you love sweet New England downtowns. Gloucester’s HarborWalk is a one-mile walking path through town from Gloucester House to Stage Fort Park. From St. Peter’s Square on Rogers Street, the HarborWalk passes the working waterfront to Harbor Loop. The Walk then turns up to City Hall, then turns back down through the historic district to St. Peter’s Square. (photo by David Gleeson)